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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Germany moves to grant intelligence agencies expanded 'operational powers' amid security concerns

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Germany's federal government has approved a draft bill to significantly strengthen the powers of its domestic and foreign intelligence agencies.
  • The reforms aim to equip agencies like the BfV and BND with enhanced operational capabilities to counter rising threats such as terrorism and cyberattacks.
  • Critics, including opposition parties, argue the move breaks historical taboos and risks creating a secret police, raising concerns about potential constitutional violations.

Germany's federal government has approved a draft bill that would grant its domestic and foreign intelligence agencies significantly expanded operational powers, a move aimed at bolstering defenses against escalating threats like terrorism and cyberattacks. This reform marks a departure from the strict limitations placed on intelligence services since World War II, a consequence of Germany's historical experiences with Nazi-era Gestapo and East German Stasi.

We are targets of hybrid warfare and attacks every day. We must also act proactively against hostile forces and are developing our intelligence agencies into true intelligence agencies.

— Alexander DobrindtGerman Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt explaining the necessity of the reforms to counter evolving threats.

The proposed legislation would allow the domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, to conduct preemptive actions such as entering suspects' residences to dismantle bomb components. The foreign intelligence service, BND, would gain the authority to directly manipulate the IT infrastructure of foreign entities targeting Germany. Furthermore, the reforms propose easing digital access for intelligence agencies, introducing "online searches" to access data on personal devices and expanding "source communication interception" to review past communications.

Government officials argue these expanded powers are necessary to match the capabilities of intelligence agencies in other major European countries and to actively counter "hybrid warfare" and attacks. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated, "We are targets of hybrid warfare and attacks every day. We must also act proactively against hostile forces and are developing our intelligence agencies into true intelligence agencies." The urgency for reform has been amplified by recent incidents, including a drone attack at Leipzig Airport, and concerns about increased espionage and sabotage linked to Russia.

Intelligence agency powers are beyond all reasonable limits.

— Janine WisslerJanine Wissler, Secretary-General of the Left Party, criticizing the proposed expansion of powers.

However, the proposed changes have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Left Party Secretary-General Janine Wissler called the expansion of intelligence agency powers "beyond all reasonable limits," while Free Democratic Party leader Wolfgang Kubicki stated, "I don't want a secret police in Germany." Concerns about potential unconstitutionality have also been raised, with the possibility of the bill facing review by the Federal Constitutional Court.

I don't want a secret police in Germany.

— Wolfgang KubickiWolfgang Kubicki, leader of the Free Democratic Party, expressing his opposition to the reforms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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